Local veterinarian offers total holistic care for various types of animals in Plano area

On any given day, a variety of animals are brought in to Dr. Shawn Messonnier's animal hospital. Whether the animal is a rabbit or a bird, Messonnier pulls out his stethoscope and examines the pet on his table, determining the best way to care for the animal with natural therapies.

Messonnier was a student of conventional medicine after graduating as a doctor of veterinary medicine from Texas A&M University in 1987. But as he began his practice, he said the animals were not getting better and he kept seeing the same patients return.

"I was getting frustrated, and pet owners were getting frustrated. I just started searching, thinking there has to be some other way that I haven't been taught, or been exposed to, to help these pets other than just doping them up every month knowing they're not getting any better," Messonnier said.

So 15 years ago, he began to pursue natural therapies to treat his patients, focusing on allergies in the beginning. Messonnier educated himself through case reports, communication with fellow veterinarians and mentors and joined the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.

These days, his animal hospital, which he opened in Plano in 1991, provides holistic treatment for all sorts of issues, including skin disease, cancer and seizures.

As the only 100-percent-integrated animal hospital in the area, Messonnier said the business is recognized as using science-based holistic care on animals by other area hospitals and clinics, which use conventional medicine. He said those businesses also refer clients to Messonnier's hospital.

The longtime veterinarian said he aims to prevent disease rather than just treat it. On average, he said his treatments lengthen a healthy pet's life by three to five years and a cancer patient by six to 12 months.

"A big part of what we do is offer hope for these cases that seem hopeless that nobody else can help," he said. "We're always providing a different perspective than the strictly conventional approach."

Messonnier said he rarely provides vaccines, avoids drugs if possible and aims to reduce the cost to the owner as much as possible.

Stephanie Messonnier, Dr. Messonnier's sister-in-law, said she has been bringing her three dachshunds to him since her family moved to Plano 11 years ago, and said she prefers his natural approach over conventional medicine.

"[Dr. Messonnier] is very much a homeopathic-focused doctor. He looks for natural remedies and natural therapies. That's what I like," she said. "He doesn't just automatically give vaccines."

While Dr. Messonnier aims to heal and prevent diseases for pets with natural and holistic practices, he said conventional medicine and surgery is sometimes the only option.

"The natural, holistic, integrative approach doesn't mean we never use conventional drugs," Messonnier said. "What it means is that if we need to use medicine, [we] use the medicine correctly and in the lowest dose, always moving towards the natural approach."

Paws & Claws

2145 W. Park Blvd., 972-867-8800, www.petcarenaturally.com, Hours: Mon.–Thu. 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.–noon